5 rising stars in Hollywood to keep an eye on

The entertainment industry offers an ever-changing world of on-screen talent, and 2024 has seen many artists break out in film and television. Here are 5 rising stars that audiences should keep an eye on in the future:

David Jonsson

British actor David Jonsson made a splash among independent film fans with his first feature film role in Rye Lane (2023), which earned him a nomination at the British Independent Film Awards. Jonsson’s fame was already on the rise following the success of “Rye Lane,” but his appearance in Fede Álvarez’s “Alien: Romulus” captivated fans who didn’t know his talent.

Jonsson grew up in a working class family in London and chose acting before joining the National Youth Theater. After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in Acting, he landed his first professional role on stage in the interpretation of Mary Stuart at the Almeida Theater. Jonsson later starred in the BBC Two and HBO series Industry for two seasons, as well as the play And Breathe…, which won him a Black British Theater Award.

“Alien: Romulus” proved to be a critical and financial success, earning Jonsson praise and over $349 million at the box office. With five projects coming soon or in production, audiences should expect to see more from this Afro-Creole actor in the future.

Mikey Madison

With previous acting appearances in Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” (2019) and as the memorable Amber Freeman in 2022’s “Scream,” it may be difficult to classify Mikey Madison as a new rising star. However, the end of 2024 is shaping up to be a breakthrough year for the Los Angeles native.

After her sister married a film writer, Madison decided to leave the world of competitive riding and pursue an acting career. A series of roles in independent works led to her first major role as Max Fox on “Better Things,” a five-season dramedy series for FX. Since then, Madison has also starred in Anthony Madler’s “Monster” (2018) and portrayed Candi in the animated series “The Addams Family” (2019).

Madison’s upcoming role as the title character in Sean Baker’s Anora (2024) is proving to be a career-defining role. The film, which details the controversial romance between an exotic dancer and the son of a Russian oligarch, has already secured the Palme d’Or at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival.

With major media outlets and correspondents predicting a Best Actress nomination for Madison at the upcoming Oscars, she is well on her way to becoming a more desirable name in Hollywood.

Ella Purnell

Video game adaptations have been notoriously mediocre or boring to watch for beloved fans of the source material. However, the Ella Purnell-led Fallout series for Amazon Prime has proven to change course in the year’s tumultuous series of adaptations and propel Purnell to true stardom.

Born in London’s Whitechapel, Purnell began acting in 2009 while still at school and taking acting and singing lessons. By the time she was 18, Purnell had already landed numerous roles, such as “Kick-Ass 2” (2013), “Never Let Me Go” (2010) and “Intruders” (2010). However, she began to think about whether she wanted to continue acting or go to university and find herself.

Around this time, Purnell was offered a life-changing role in Tim Burton’s Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children (2016). Her inclusion in the film reignited her passion for acting by pairing her with an idealistic filmmaker, and Purnell quickly found herself in roles in “Churchill” (2017) and the “Yellowjackets” series, as well as voicing for “Arcane.” again.

The popularity and praise of “Fallout” has made Purnell the latest “it girl” among entertainment audiences. Although she only received one Astra TV Award nomination for her work on the series, her recent releases – including a twisted role in Sweetpea and Season 2 of Arcane – are sure to keep audiences up to date with the British actress hold.

Anna Sawai

FX’s “Shōgun” quickly became one of the biggest shows of 2024 due to its cinematography, complex depiction of feudal 17th-century Japan, and standout performances. One of those standout characters is Japanese actress Anna Sawai, who plays the determined Toda Mariko plays.

Thanks to her mother’s encouragement, Sawai got her start in the entertainment industry at the age of 11 when she landed the lead role in the 2004 Nippon TV production “Annie.” Sawai later attended a boot camp run by Avex Inc., a J-pop entertainment conglomerate, before joining J-pop girl group Faky as lead singer in 2013.

While Sawai continued to act during her performances, she left the group in 2018 to pursue a larger acting career. Her first role after her departure was in the British series “Giri/Haji” (2019), but her industry breakthrough came when she landed a role in the box office hit “F9” (2021).

Sawai’s later roles included starring roles in Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and Pachinko for Apple TV+. However, her performance in Shōgun earned her immense acclaim, such as a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, making her the first Asian actress to win in that category.

D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai

Named one of ELLE’s Hollywood Rising Stars of 2024 alongside Purnell and Sawai, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai has made a name for herself and other Indigenous actors in the entertainment industry.

The Toronto-born, Oji-Cree and Guyanese actor knew he wanted to pursue acting as a teenager, landing his first role in an untitled project found on a bulletin board poster asking for young Indigenous actors was asked. While on set, Woon-A-Tai quickly fell in love with the performance environment and decided to fully pursue an acting career.

Woon-A-Tai’s first role was in three episodes of Holly Hobbie, a Canadian children’s series that premiered in 2018. He guest starred in other Canadian series such as Murdoch Mysteries before making his feature film debut with Tracey Deers Beans (2020), the winner of Best Motion Picture at the Canadian Screen Awards.

Woon-A-Tai’s breakthrough came after he landed the role of Bear Smallhill in the FX on Hulu series “Reservation Dogs,” which premiered in 2021. Produced by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, the series aired for three seasons and was a monumental series of Indigenous representation. It featured an all-Indigenous writing room and directors, crew and cast who were predominantly Indigenous North Americans.

After the final season aired, Woon-A-Tai became the first Indigenous actor to be nominated for an Emmy Award for Lead Actor. At the 76th Primetime Emmys ceremony, he made history again by wearing a red handprint on his face to raise awareness of the number of missing and murdered Indigenous women across the country.

His upcoming projects include “Warfare,” directed by Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland, and “Caught Stealing,” directed by Darren Aronofsky. Working with top-notch directors and actors (including Charles Melton and Regina King), Woon-A-Tai is a star here to stay.

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